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Tweak says, "World falls to my demise!"

kirley__duke (kirley__duke) wrote in hogwarts_dawn,
@ 2021-03-17 18:34:00

Entry tags:

character: kirley duke, character: scorpius malfoy

RP: Kirley & Scorpius
Who: Kirley & Scorpius
When: March 17, afternoon
Where: Around the castle
What: Scouting locations and a little bit of sulking

If his father could see him now, the old bastard would have such a smug grin on his face. Kieran James McCormack, otherwise known as Kirley Duke, was finally applying himself to something worthwhile. Not only worthwhile, but he was in charge of an entire country's treasury. He was not unaware of the significance of this, or the absolute chaos that would come tumbling down if he fucked it up. He could have kept his mouth shut, focused on the club, and no one would have said anything. But no, he'd acted on impulse, and now he was a Department Head. For the Ministry of Magic. Fuck.

He wanted to take it back, wanted to hole up in his music room and start creating, but it turned out he was still just as horrible at writing music and lyrics as he'd always been, and even if he had penned the Weird Sisters' newest epic, there was no band to share it with. No band to record it, to travel with, to party with. The band had been his life for fifteen years, and it was hard to adjust to not having them anymore.

There was still the club though. He might not have a band anymore, and he might be in charge of the financial future of the country, but he still had the club. He'd decided to skip the towers altogether; he was pretty sure the only free one was the owlery and that just wouldn't do. So he'd just started wandering, taking his time exploring the castle in a way he hadn't even as a student. Somewhere, there would be the perfect place for a club. He just had to find it.

He rounded a corner on the sixth floor and saw someone else coming down the hall towards him. A tall, gorgeous blonde who was just androgynous enough to have Kirley immediately interested. He tried to remember the name, Savannah's advice to start putting names with people. S, something. Scott, Sam...no, it was something more interesting than that. Scorpion, or something similar.

"It's Scorpius, right?" The name came to him as the distance between them closed.

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hd_scorpius
2021-03-17 11:49 pm UTC (link)

Scorpius was doing a lot of walking around. It was good exercise, but it also gave him room to think without anyone looking at him as if he'd lost his mind (although he had). His bloody grandfather, with the mean stare and the rigid attitude was a Head at the Ministry and he couldn't even figure out a single thing that he liked.

He hadn't really expected to meet people. He supposed everyone was enjoying the last few days of freedom before they started a boring 9-5 work day. Scorpius really hated the idea. He hated it so much until he didn't even notice anyone until he heard his name.

"That's right. We actually know each other in my time," Scorpius said. "We've been at some events together," he explained. "You were older. So what are you doing around here? Am I interfering with some highly important Ministry work?"

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kirley__duke
2021-03-18 01:03 am UTC (link)

"Do we? I hope I made a good impression." Kirley ignored the comment about being older. He was going to pretend that had never happened for as long as he could. "And I'm looking for a place for a club. The Minister doesn't think the Room of Requirement will let me use it forever, and I can see his point."

He gestured expansively around the castle. "So, I'm looking for an appropriate place. It probably needs to be out of the common path, and I'm sure the Doom and Gloom Patrol will say it needs to be away from where the students will eventually be." Some people might think that a club near children would be irresponsible, or something. Already being a department Head had ruined him.

"Actually, you could help if you wanted. You're young, hot. Where would you want to go to party here? I wouldn't mind a second opinion." He gave the young man a grin. "I've already decided against the owlery, for obvious reasons."

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hd_scorpius
2021-03-18 01:12 am UTC (link)

"Are we calling Mr. Potter the Minister now?" Scorpius asked, although he could see how it was start to take the mick and ending up being taken seriously. "I've never used the Room of Requirements before the other night. I suppose I never had a need for anything."

He made a face. "Too bad because someone near the prefect bathrooms would have been ideal. Imagine having a room connected to one of the bathrooms? You can have a pool in the club, like some of the Mediterranean countries do. It'd be amazing," he said. "Of course, they might veto the idea, but maybe you can do it somewhere else."

Scorpius laughed. "Of course I'm young and hot. I'm the Face of the Year, on my way to conquer the world of fashion. At leas until I came here." He made a face. "Now stop with that. But if you want it in a place where the students will never go, then how about the West tower. It's not used for anything school like right? I don't know if the layout would work though. That'd be awesome for a big club, not one that is visited by twenty some people."

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kirley__duke
2021-03-18 01:46 am UTC (link)

"Since that's what we elected him to be, it's his title," Kirley said, with a careless shrug. He didn't really care what they called Harry Potter. "It often presented itself to me while I was at school and needed a place to play music. Or engage in other activities."

Kirley nodded in sad agreement. "I thought of that, and I like the idea of having a pool. There was the best little club in Malta that I have very fond memories of." He wondered if Scorpius knew which club he meant and if it even existed in the future. Clubs came and went fairly often, after all.

"Well, join the club. I was continuing to conquer the world of music, and now I'm here." And about to figure how to conquer the world of finance. He wished he was dreaming. "That's where the owlery is. I went there. It...smells and I didn't even get to the top. Definitely not good for a club." He sighed dramatically. "Even one that will entertain only twenty-some people."

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hd_scorpius
2021-03-18 01:57 am UTC (link)

"He's been Mr. Potter for so long, that it still feels strange but I suppose." It was just a name for something that he'd been doing already, but people seemed to take it to heart. It'll be interesting to see how relationships shifted now that it was official. "I guess my needs weren't important enough."

He grinned. "I actually know it. Sky Club, right? Although I prefer the ones in Greece and they are perfect because I can be at the pool under the moonlight and not get sunburned. So if you like the idea, what's the problem? The students? The only area with no students, would be the dungeon. Maybe you can take up the potion classroom and the office of the Head of Slytherin. Open it up and put a pool there."

He sighed. "And now you're running the budget. Congratulations by the way. Smooth transition." He had to admire the people who could actually move on so quickly. "I suppose it would be smelly. The owls must still be up there."

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kirley__duke
2021-03-18 02:55 am UTC (link)

"It's not as if I know the man personally, at least not in my past. I don't know about the future me you knew." Somehow, he doubted it. He and Harry Potter hadn't run in similar social circles, after all. "Or you were creative enough to get them met elsewhere."

He grinned. "Yeah, that's the one. The ones in Greece were good too, and sunburning must have been a very real worry for you." Scorpius was very pale under all that blonde hair. "The students were one concern. Another is it's too...central. A club should have some mystery around it to drive up interest." Not that there was any real mystery with a group so small, but it was the illusion of it.

"The dungeons are a possibility. I don't know about the potions classroom though. Lingering odors." The idea had merit though. "Perhaps I'll go down and see what else is there and unused."

The face he made when reminded about being in charge of the budget couldn't be helped. "It will be a good distraction from the constant reminder that I'm on my own, no band, few fans, and little chance of being able to go on tour." It was as close as he'd come to admitting being depressed about the changes. "I didn't check, but I'd think so. The elves would have cared for them I think."

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hd_scorpius
2021-03-18 03:14 am UTC (link)

"Probably not," Scorpius admitted, although he wasn't sure. "Someone I can't see you spending time at the type of parties Mr. Potter used to go to." Scorpius laughed. "Or I can be less dramatic and can't really think of a need that required an extra room to do it."

Scorpius made a face. "Let's just say that all my beach time starts around four in the afternoon, which is actually rather nice, because all the families leave, the sun is still warm, but doesn't burn and you can sleep during the day." It was a win/win situation for him. "I mean, it's not like anything here there's any mystery, but whatever."

He snorted. "It's been eight years with stone walls. If there are any others we need to worry that the ghost have been brewing potions."

He could understand that. It was the reason he walked around so much. It physically tired him enough that he could sleep. Although it might get better now that Albus was here. "I can't say that I'm a fan of birds, and it's not like we have anyone to owl at the moment."

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kirley__duke
2021-03-18 03:20 pm UTC (link)

Kirley laughed, and shook his head. "No, I can't see that either somehow, unless something changed dramatically for one of us after what I remember." The idea of Harry Potter at a Weird Sisters' orgy was hilarious though. "What's the point of life if you're not a little bit dramatic sometimes." He gave the younger man a once over. "And you look pretty dramatic to me." His tone made it clear he didn't think that was a bad thing.

"I can't say my beach time starts any earlier than that either, but not out of fear of burning." Kirley was rarely up before noon, unless the band had a recording session planned, but even then they usually had arranged the schedule to best suit everyone's various habits. "No, no mystery, but like I said we can create the illusion of it. Maybe."

Kirley shrugged. "There might be some room down there, but we'd need to do some major renovations. The castle has been accommodating so far though, so it's a possibility." There was something attractive about repurposing a boring classroom and making into something fun.

"They're useful, but I have no desire to be anywhere near them."

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hd_scorpius
2021-03-18 03:31 pm UTC (link)

Scorpius shook his head. "No, nothing has changed. I can assure you that," he said giggling. "Nonsense. I like to be very dramatic all of the times. Life is too boring otherwise." He preened under Kirley's gaze, making a 360 turn and smiling. "Like it then? People either do or hate it."

He laughed. "The sun is a good excuse and people understand it better than I sleep during the morning. Coming here was like traveling through time zones. All of a sudden, everyone is up at seven and goes to bed at ten. It's like being in school, but we're adults." He could see why Kirley was doing it. "I still think you need a pool."

He didn't know if the school would go that far, but- "I have an idea. Probably a terrible idea, but- The club is nice, but what if we create some sort of spa next to it as well. I know how to do hair. Sort of comes with the modeling job, but since we don't have masseuses, something simple, like a pool, sauna. Is that too much? Is Mr. Potter going to let us? I mean we could do it as a side project."

Scorpius shrugged. "Not as useful with the journals. People started using them less and less, except for packages and deliveries."

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kirley__duke
2021-03-18 06:06 pm UTC (link)

"I'd be lying if I said that wasn't a relief." Kirley was only exaggerating a little; the thought that in his old age he'd started to enjoy the types of parties he could imagine Potter at was more than a little depressing. "Then we'll get along just fine. Drama is what drives life to be worth living." He grinned as Scorpius turned around, and took his time giving him the once over.

The knit tube dress was accessorized with a belt, and gave the illusions of curves. Kirley let his grin slide into something much more appreciative. "I'd be an idiot not to like what I see," he said, once Scorpius had turned around to face him again. "And I'm no idiot." Kirley didn't care what was under the dress; he always appreciated beauty.

"I think you're right about the pool." Because who wanted to deal with giant squids and merpeople when you wanted to swim? "Doesn't sound like a terrible idea to me, and Potter can deal if he doesn't like it. Until the castle lets us leave, this is our home now. It's a school sure, but iut's also the new center of wizarding Britain, and if it wants people to want to stay and not hate it here, it's going to have to get with the times." He knew it was ridiculous to talk about the castle like it was a sentient being, but it was something they'd all gotten in the habit of doing since coming here. "I'll talk to Potter. Convince him of the idea."

Kirley nodded. "Makes sense to me. The journals are less smelly than the owls too." He hadn't been ready to announce his presence to the world at large; what if people didn't remember him? Remember the band? He couldn't handle that, so had stuck to the Hogwarts filter since they'd discovered it was a thing.

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hd_scorpius
2021-03-18 06:24 pm UTC (link)

"This is a wild guess, but I think you could be in your hundreds and you still wouldn't go to the parties he goes to. I'd say that he enjoys, but I've never seen him actually enjoy those parties either." He'd never seen Mr. Potter enjoy much of anything unless it was home and surrounded by relatives only. "I'm so glad. It would have been terrible if you didn't like the hottest model on the market. At least in 2028."

Scorpius grinned. "So we'll have a club and a spa. It sounds marvellous. Too bad that there isn't a job for coming up with lots of things that let us enjoy ourselves. I'd be so good at that A few recreational potions, some alcohol, even some weed. This would be a lot more enjoyable, although I'm sure Mr. Potter isn't approving any of that." No, he was more likely to drink.

He chuckled. "They are also immediate and you don't have to wait for the owls to fly across country. Sometimes it took weeks for answers. Now, you can shoot a message and five minutes later you are meeting up." He grinned. "I can't wait for us to have some sort of international green light. Even if we can't travel, we can at least reach out to the world."

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kirley__duke
2021-03-18 10:53 pm UTC (link)

"Not so wild a guess," Kirley said, not stopping the grin that formed. "I don't know the man, but he seems like someone that could use a good party to loosen up." Among other things; the man was seriously too wound up, even for someone who had the weight of the country on his shoulders. "I hope my older self put you on an album cover." He had a horrible thought. "And if we didn't because we faded from the zeitgeist of the 2020s, don't tell me. I couldn't handle it."

Kirley shook off the horror and nodded. "There should be a job for that. I keep saying we can't be all doom and gloom, or we won't have a people to govern. Look at all the Muggles had to offer even in my time. I imagine things have only gotten more varied since then. If all we can offer these kids is a drafty castle and the chance to maybe learn a few cool spells, what hope do we have of surviving, let alone thriving?" The British wizarding world had always been too focused on traditions, on pureblood versus muggleborn, and not enough on what people actually cared about in his opinion.

"I imagine it was an excellent way to have actual interactions with fans at the moment. I can see how the journals would have been a real benefit for networking." He hoped he'd have the chance to figure it out on a wider-reaching platform. "Right there with you. I want to know what's going on, what's popular, who's still standing, and what new things have taken hold."

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hd_scorpius
2021-03-19 12:13 am UTC (link)

"If you save the world twice before you even hit twenty, you tend to be a little paranoid," Scorpius said with a shrug. "He did not, but I'd just started and I did a lot of international shoots. Britain is a lot less appreciative of what they can't quantify. A man is a man, a woman is a woman." He laughed. "No, you were doing just fine. In fact you had your own label for younger artists. Or did you already do that?"

Scorpius snorted. "We didn't have any of that at the school when we were here. I don't know about the kids. I think it's more about us. If we're stuck here and we're only going to worry about saving the world, how long before we lose it? No one can run on duty forever. Sooner or later, we will burn out. In fact, if you want to sell it to the VIPs, I don't think you should mention access for the students. Although I don't see why not, at least for the older one. I don't think you want younger people in a sauna. It's actually not healthy for them."

He nodded. "I know I did. Lily, that's Mr. Potter's daughter, is- was an influencer. She made money writing things. With your name, you can imagine how many people followed her." He hoped that they would get back to living and not just breathing. "I'd settle with knowing whether they want to kill us. At least for starters. Entertainment isn't as important if we're dead again."

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kirley__duke
2021-03-19 01:54 am UTC (link)

"Yeah. I guess he can have a pass, as long as he doesn't try to make the rest of us as paranoid as he is." On the whole though, he didn't think Potter was trying to do that at all. The club had been his idea, after all. Kirley could give him a break for being boring. "Did I? That's good. I'd had the idea, but hadn't done anything official yet. I'm glad to know that it worked out."

Kirley made a face. "Exactly! I'd have found school a lot more interesting if there was something besides classes and Quidditch to do. Might even have come back for seventh year." He doubted that. He'd been too eager to make his mark on the music world to have dealt with another year of school. "No one under seventeen, but you might be on to something with the VIPs. And I hadn't intended any of the younger children to be there. Seventeen and up, and we'll have students up to age nineteen. They're adults, and should be treated as such." He wouldn't have appreciated being treated as an eleven year old at nineteen, and he doubted these Muggleborns would either.

"An influencer? Good for her." Kirley understood the importance of cultivating a fan following, influencing the trends. It's how one stayed relevant through the decades. "No, it wouldn't be would it? I would rather stay alive, so let's hope that the international community is willing to accept us. Or at the very least, leave us alone."

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hd_scorpius
2021-03-19 02:01 am UTC (link)

"Then we'd have to save the world too and I'm already too old for that," he said giggling. "And you did. I think it was yours, just you, but then I know better than to trust newspaper reports, even when they are about financial deals. Mostly because they were publicized as Weird Sisters break up or some sort of nonsense. Savannah would probably know the truth."

Scorpius laughed. "Well, I guess you have a point. I'm not even sure why I got my NEWTs. Family expectations maybe. Knowing how to brew a potion does nothing for your modeling career." He nodded. "Maybe that's doable. I mean even the eleven year olds could use the pool. Exercise is good for them. Just not the sauna." He was still thinking how that could lead to a job, but he didn't think it would. The house-elves were good at keeping things in order.

"I doubt her family agrees with you. They are all about privacy and not sharing what's happening. People might write about them, but it's never confirmed or denied." He made a face. "Leaving us alone will get boring soon. Not that I don't enjoy talking to you but we need more than twenty something people."

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kirley__duke
2021-03-19 02:31 am UTC (link)

"Let's not talk about anyone being too old. It's just depressing," he said, charmed by the giggle. There was something feminine about it that kept grabbing his attention. "I'll have to ask her, but if the Weird Sisters ever broke-up I don't think I want to know. Still, none of the others were all that interested in the business side of the band, let alone other bands. But a record label makes good investment sense, and I always thought there should be more music, so I'm glad made it happen."

Kirley grinned. "Of course I do. I was a Ravenclaw you know. We're known for being very clever." He knew all about family expectations. "I thought my father's head would explode when I made the announcement. Would have been an improvement for the man." They might have found peace with each other for the most part, but Kirley knew his father would never fully understand his decisions. Could never know, since the man was dead. "The pool can be all ages, with reserved times for adults-only."

"Well, that only makes the press more interested. You've got to know how to play that to your advantage, find the line between public and private, and work the press the right way. You probably know all about that." Being a model, and one who wanted to be internationally known would require a certain delicate hand with the press. "Oh, I absolutely agree with the boring. So let's just hope whoever is in charge of diplomacy doesn't fuck it up."

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hd_scorpius
2021-03-19 02:40 am UTC (link)

The smile got bigger, because he understood all about vanity. He was the one having too many lotions at twenty-one. "You're young and gorgeous. How's that?" He shook his head. "I don't think it happened, because despite the reports, you still lived together, played together and partied together. I might not be a genius like some of the people here, but those aren't the signs of someone breaking up."

He tilted his head. "Really? So you were hiding your smarts so you could enjoy yourself. Well played, Mr. Duke." He shrugged. "I don't think my father would have said anything. He was- He loved me no matter what. If he could accept the way I look I don't think school would have been an issue, but I didn't want to disappoint him. Maybe because he understood me." he nodded. "I would think that the students would have limited time anyway. You still want them to go to school."

He didn't think that it would make a different. "It's the Potters. Being born is news, standing up is news, the first step, the first date, the first everything. My life wasn't anywhere near like theirs. There's no balance for them." He really really hoped that Kirley was right. "So should we keep looking? I have nothing better to do and two sets of eyes are better then one."

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